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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to improve their game.

Ireland responded immediately.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to find their rhythm versus Japan.

Nevertheless, facing Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance this year.

In his debut test match start at full-back, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and played exceptionally against the country of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with injuries honestly," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I know there's considerable discussion about me not exactly being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I love this group and this seems like family.

"Whenever I have to represent for Ireland it's a privilege, if you fail to deliver a good showing you may not receive that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to go out and perform what I could do."

Coach stated: 'Excellent athletes require no justifications'

After twenty-eight appearances on the flank, the player was entrusted the full-back role for the first time with several players unavailable.

In his case, it was simply a case of continuing where he finished during the warmer months.

The 28-year-old had been in superb form before physical issues disrupted his aspiration of joining the Test squad.

After come back last month, he developed a foot problem that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome team dilemma for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different colored shoes!'," commented the coach, referring to Hansen's decision to wear different footwear.

"In fact I believed that was appropriate but apparently Mack just made that personally anyway. So he's drawn notice to himself before he's even started.

"I told to him before the match, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can perform and just play naturally, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"Therefore he's that kind of player, he prepares thoroughly, he's got a great attitude to understand his detail and so that's why he fitted straight into the team and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the rival manager, who stated he was the "exceptional opposition player" on the evening.

"I thought he was outstanding, his knowledge was evident to the front," commented the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Mack was probably the standout Australian performer on the field. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a good competitor."

When asked about what enables the player a good option at full-back, the coach added: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's better in place for that frequently.

"His aerial work was excellent, wasn't it? I thought we persisted of doing the right thing and that was putting the possession again on them to secure field position.

"The reason that was the right strategy to do is since it's the players of Hansen who was securing the balls back, and additional teammates, so [it's] pretty satisfying."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 position, the set piece and throw-in operated smoothly and different player did not appear out of place in his first appearance in the forwards.

But possibly more pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple impressive periods.

The player's initial couple of scores came in the first 11 moments while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and attacked the game right from the word go," stated the coach.

"How we managed numerous elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the later stages, I thought as far as field position and being across most of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be considered as an unofficial decider to the previous season's drawn multiple match series on opposition soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but the recent defeat of the Australian team was a important advancement in the right direction after an uninspiring beginning to their autumn campaign.